Miami has enough WR depth to make up for Cam Vaughn's dismissal

Miami Hurricanes wide receiver Malachi Toney. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Miami has enough WR depth to make up for Cam Vaughn's dismissal

By Alan Rubenstein | Last updated Aug 19, 2026 8:18 PM ET

The dismissal of wide receiver Cam Vaughn from the Miami football program should not significantly impact the Hurricanes' depth at the position.

Miami head coach Mario Cristobal announced that Vaughn has been dismissed from the team during an appearance on "The Joe Rose Show" on Monday.

Vaughn was the 160th-ranked transfer and 36th WR in the 247Sports portal rankings after transferring to Miami from West Virginia. In his first season with a Power Four program, Vaughn had 35 receptions for 541 yards and four touchdowns with the Mountaineers in 2025.

Vaughn was one of three transfer WRs Miami added during the 2026 transfer portal cycle. Cooper Barkate from Duke and Vandrevius Jacobs from South Carolina were the other two transfers Miami added to the 2026 roster. Barkate and Jacobs are both projected starters.

Barkate and Miami quarterback Darian Mensah led Duke to the 2026 ACC Title. Barkate had 72 receptions for 1,106 yards and seven TDs in his first season playing in the Football Bowl Subdivision in 2026. Jacobs had 32 receptions for 548 yards and four TDs in 2025.

Miami Hurricanes should still have an impressive offense without Cam Vaughn

Barkate provides Miami with two No. 1 receivers. After a record-breaking freshman season, Malachi Toney returns for Miami opposite Barkate. Toney was named a first-team preseason All-American by the Associated Press on Tuesday.

With Mensah throwing to Barkate, Jacobs and Toney, Miami should have one of the best offenses nationally. Sophomore Joshua Moore and redshirt freshman Daylyn Upshaw are the projected second-team WRs for Miami in the 2026 rotation.

Cristobal and Miami offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson have shown a willingness to play freshmen. Miami signed an exceptional group of WRs in the 2026 class. Somourian Wingo, Milan Parris, Vance Spafford and Tyran Evans could all compete for snaps as freshmen with Miami in 2026.

Parris, Spafford and Wingo were four-star signees and Evans was a three-star. Parris and Wingo were both top-11 WRs and in the top 67 prospects in the 2026 class. Cristobal and his staff have continued to set the pace, signing elite talent nationally as high school prospects and through the transfer portal.

Alan Rubenstein

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